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Ordinary Men
271 pages, 1998
In Ordinary Men, Christopher R. Browning explores how ordinary individuals can commit horrific acts under certain circumstances. He shows that anyone, regardless of their background, can be influenced by their environment and the people around them.
Browning digs into the role of peer pressure in shaping behavior. He shows that the men in the Reserve Police Battalion 101 were not inherently evil, but were influenced by their peers and superiors to commit atrocities during the Holocaust.
Ordinary Men takes a look at how dehumanizing others can lead to unthinkable acts of violence. Browning shows that by viewing their victims as less than human, the men were able to justify their actions to themselves.
Browning's research in Ordinary Men shows the impact of authority on human behavior. He finds that the men were more likely to follow orders, even if they were morally wrong, when they came from a figure of authority.
In the book, Browning emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility. He argues that while the men were influenced by their circumstances, they still had a choice. This takeaway encourages us to always question our actions and make ethical decisions, no matter the situation.
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Ordinary Men is a case study that dissects the role of ordinary Germans in the Holocaust, providing a chilling portrait of men who became mass murderers.
Daniel Jonah Goldhagen - Political scientist, AuthorBrowning's Ordinary Men provides a stark depiction of how ordinary people can be driven to commit extraordinary atrocities.
Raul Hilberg - Historian, Holocaust scholarOrdinary Men is a profound, chilling and invaluable contribution to our understanding of the Holocaust.
Ian Kershaw - Historian, AuthorOrdinary Men is a compelling and horrifying account of the routine atrocities committed by ordinary men under the influence of a brutal regime.
Timothy Snyder - Historian, Author
